Transatlantic Security
Back to the main page
on Transatlantic Security
Export Subsidies
Back to Conventional Weapons.
Although MANPADS have not killed as many people in conflict
as smaller arms, such as AK-47s, the potential for terrorists
to use these weapons against civilian airliners and instantantly
kill hundreds of people has raised the profile of this particular
class of light weapon.
MANPADS include shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles that
are relatively easy to transport and conceal, which makes
them appealing to terrorists. At least 13 non-state groups
are thought to possess MANPADS, including insurgent and terrorist
organizations. It is estimated that they have caused between
500-800 deaths of civilians, mostly as a result of the downing
of smaller to medium-sized aircraft not far from conflict
zones.
Governments have tackled the MANPADS threat from several
angles, including: removing excess stockpiles of MANPADS;
tightening government-held stockpiles; and developing countermeasures
to protect civilian airliners from an attack once a missile
is launched.
BASIC's research on MANPADS has focused on: assessments of
terrorist threats from MANPADS; the proliferation and advancement
of MANPADS; countermeasures for civilian airliners; and arms
control and confidence-building measures.
Publications
Terrorism at Mach Speed - U.S. Efforts to Cope with the
MANPADS Threat, BASIC Research Report - forthcoming
The OSCE and MANPADS, BASIC
Reports #86, October 2004.
Man Portable Air Defense
Systems (MANPADS) Saferworld and BASIC Discussion
Paper from roundtable meeting on EU and US Cooperation on
arms export controls in a post 9/11 world, January 2003. (Posted
Spring 2003.)
Back to Conventional Weapons.
|
